Filmmaker Lucas Combines Three Companies

Filmmaker George Lucas is combining his film production, special effects and video game companies under the name Lucasfilm Ltd.

The strategic business move, announced Tuesday, will bring together special effects shop Lucas Digital, video game maker LucasArts Entertainment, Lucas Licensing and Lucasfilm.

Those four companies are housed in Marin County, where Lucas makes his home. The consolidation means most of the 2,000 employees will relocate to the company's planned Digital Arts Center campus at San Francisco's Presidio in 2005, said Lucasfilm spokeswoman Lynn Hale.

Also coinciding with the move, Lucasfilm President Gordon Radley has decided to leave the company. Lucas will remain chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Lucasfilm Ltd.

"We have a unique array of talent in the areas of special effects, sound design, interactive games, licensing, distribution and marketing," Lucas said Tuesday. "This new structure will make it easier for our diverse talents to work as a team."